What should I do next? LTSB refuse to pay!

[jonm]

I started my campaign against Lloyds TSB by sending them the preliminary letter on August 5th, claiming £200+ £32.19. Surprise, surprise, no response. So I posted the letter before action this morning. However, the postman delivered a response later on today. Here are the edited highlights;

 

"When a customer doesn't have enough money in their account to cover a payment, this always means extra work...We feel it is only fair to charge for the extra work involved".

"You've mentioned the new guidelines from the Office of Fair Trading on credit card default charges. We don't agree with the OFT's thinking on this and we're still talking it through with them. The fees we charge for going over an overdraft limit and for returned payments are not any kind of default penalty. They are fixed standard prices for the service we provide in these situations. So, accordingly to our legal experts, the OFT's guidelines on credit card default charges do not apply in any way".

"I do hope you can see that we make our charging system as fair as possible - any why I cannot agree to cancel your charges. This letter is the Bank's final response, which means that if you remain dissatisfied you may refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service."

 

So everyone, should I

a) leave things as they are, wait for the 14 days notice to expire and then log on to MoneyClaim.

b) approach the Ombudsman as suggested.

or c) write a follow up letter instructing the bank to ignore the LBA at this time and request an explanation of how their charges reflect the costs incurred in doing all this extra work they talk about. (I presume they mean manually shovelling all the extra tenners around the vault by hand, rather than leaving some faceless computer to do it in a fraction of a nanosecond overnight).

 

Let's hear some suggestions!

 

Jon

[jonm]

Oh, I forgot to mention; I've opened another account and transferred all my Direct Debits away from Lloyds TSB already. The only thing this account currently does is receive my salary. Briefly.

[Mindzai]

Sounds bog standard to me, continue with option a. Don't be put off and don't let them stall you. You've told them what you intend to do, make sure you follow through

[jonm]

Thanks. Does everyone get the same letter from a Ms Musarat Siddique, Customer Service Officer?

[countrybake]

stick to the timetable and adjust the lba letter mentioning this letter thismorning

[jonm]

I've already posted the LBA letter, do you mean I should adjust it and resend?

[countrybake]

no sorry just leave it now

[countrybake]

start reading up on the money online claims ready in 14 days time

[Bookworm]

jonm, could you PLEASE send a copy of the letter to me at:

 

[email protected] ?

 

Thanks in advance.

[jonm]

Certainly. Please let me know if the scanned copy is no good.

 

Jon

[freebird]

good luck Jon, seems similar to what we've all had from Lloyds, just keep at it mate and chin up

Freebird x

[jonm]

thanks for that. Appreciated.